Branching out: Zimbabwe’s resource colonialism in Democratic Republic of Congo

This report focuses on the Zimbabwe government and military ambitions to exploit timber resources in the DRC. It highlights their role in a global corporate web which is taking advantage of conflict in the DRC to exploit natural resources. The authors suggest that the chaotic military intervention of Zimbabwe in DRC, coupled with the domestic political situation in the run up to the March 2002 elections has meant that Zimbabwe's rulers are becoming dependent on revenue generated by their activities in DRC.

"The logging deal is just one part of an extensive Zanu PF inspired and controlled business strategy which has significant implications both in Zimbabwe and for the region. The strategy is devoted to controlling not just numerous businesses, but the infrastructure essential to virtually all business activity in the region, including energy and transport. The strategy centralises both money and power under the control of key Zanu-PF politicians and military leaders."

The report outlines the complex corporate structures being established and details the extent of Zimbabwe's military involvement in DRC and the effect that short term exploitation of DRCs resources by opposing factions is extending the conflict. It concludes that strong international action is required to prevent Zimbabwe securing the timber deal. The authors make the following recommendations:

• The Government of Zimbabwe should unilaterally withdraw from the SOCEBO logging deal, as it is contrary to peace initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The Parliament of Zimbabwe should condemn the corporate ambitions of Zanu-PF, the ruling party, some of which are detrimental to regional peace, and undermine political stability.
• To demonstrate its commitment to regional peace, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo should cancel the SOCEBO contract to exploit the country's forests.

The UN Security Council should:

• Categorised timber from DRC as a commodity banned from international trade. Accordingly, the UNSC should impose sanctions on all timber exports from the DRC until it can be demonstrated that these exports do not fund or otherwise contribute to the continuation of conflict.

The UN Security Council and the Commonwealth Heads of State should:

• Condemn the Government of Zimbabwe's resource colonialism¦ in DRC.
• Exert pressure on both Zimbabwe and the DRC to cancel the proposed 33 million hectare logging deal because it poses a severe threat to the regional peace process, sustainable forestry is not possible in the current climate, and because the forests of DRC have been highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of only 15 countries where conservation efforts should be concentrated.

The international community, particularly the EU, its member states and the Commonwealth, should:

• Place an embargo on imports of natural resources that have been plundered or expropriated by armed factions, or those linked to them.